Apparatus for dispensing drinks



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I W. M. FOWL R. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS.

No. 488,481. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WM. FOWLER.

I APPARATUS FOR- DISPENSING DRINKS. N0.'468-,481. Patented Feb. 9, 1892..

'5 Shuts-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. FOWLER. ,APPARATUSYFOR DISPENSING DRINKS.

468,481. Patent-ed Feb. 9, 1892.

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(No Model.) I 5 SheetsSheet 4.

W. M. FOWLER. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS.

No; 468,481. P v Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

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No. 468,481. Patented Feb. 9. 1892.

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NVILLIAM M. FOlVLER, OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,481, dated February 9, 1892.

Application filed February 20, 1891. Serial No. 382,239. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. FOWLER, of Milford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Dispensing Drinks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for dispensing drinks in which several supply-reservoirs are supported in a manner to be broughtat pleasure into position to discharge a portion of their contents into a glass or other suitable receiver, and in which provision is made for conveying the glass or other suitable receiver out of reach of the operator while receiving its charge from the reservoir, and preventing access to it until a permanent record has been made of its price.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through the reservoir-support, showing the receiversupport and the case which incloses the checkprinting mechanism in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a view of said casing, the receiver-support, and the base of the reservoir-support in side elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section, partly in elevation, from front to rear through the said casing and receiver-carrier. Fig. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan View of the several operating parts within the said casing, showing the casing itself in horizontal section. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the receiver-carrier support, a portion of the same being broken away to indicate more clearly the operating mechanism. Fig. (i is a partial top plan view of the reservoir-support and the receiver-carrier. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in detail representing, respectively, a top plan view and a transverse vertical section of the glass or receiver-carrier; and Fig. 9 is a view in detail of the ratchet and cam-wheel and parts adjacent thereto.

In describing this apparatus I shall find it convenient to refer, in the first place, to the arrangement and manipulation of the several reservoirs; secondly, to the means for supporting and carrying the receiver into position to receive its charge of liquid from the reservoir and returning it to be removed, and, finally, to the. mechanism for printing the price. of the liquid dispensed and for severing the printed tickets.

A represents the base of the reservoir-support, the same being sustained at its rear portion by legs a and at its front portion by a casing 13, which latter incloses the price-printing mechanism and forms a support for the receivercarrier. The base A is here shown as provided with an upwardly-projecting rim a, and at its center it has an upWardly-pro jected threaded boss a It is also provided with an annular upwardly-extending ring portion a in the upper face of which is formed an annular groove a for the reception of a series of ball-bearings a.

The rotary support for the several reservoirs C is provided with a flat bottom a, which rests upon the ball-bearings a and with upwardly and outwardly flaring sides 0', provided on their outer faces with an annular lip 0 adapted, when the support isin position, to overlap the upper rim a of the base A. The outer portion of the bottom 0 of the retary support is provided at intervals with openings 0 for the reception of the necks c of the reservoirs.

Fixed centrally to the bottom 0 and uprising therefrom is a central hub D, which has secured to its upper end a plate d, provided with openings d therethrough for the reception of thereservoirs, and is further provided with an upwardly-projecting rim or flange 61 having a shoulder (Z formed therein for the reception of the edge d of a cover d A spindle d extends centrally through the hub D and bottom 0 of the reservoir-support and screws into the boss a in the support A. At its upper end the spindle extends upwardly through the top of the cover (1 and is provided at or near its upper end with an annular groove d located just below the top of the cover (1 A look d is fixed to the under side of the cover (1 in position for its bolt to be shot into and out of the groove (1 in the spindle and to thereby lock the cover to the spindle or release it therefrom, as may be 4 desired. Access to the lock d is had from the top of the cover (1 by removing the ornamental pieced". (Represented in Fig. lot the accompanying drawings.) It will thus be seen that when the parts are assembled access to the reservoirs can only be had by a person holding the key to the lock (Z At a predeterminedpointinthepresentinstance within the limits of the top of the casingB the base A is provided with an opening over which that reservoir from which the liquid is to be drawn may be placed by rotating the support about the spindle (Z upon the bearings a. Provision may be made for stopping each of the reservoirs in the desired adjustment by a series of notches c in the outer face of the support, adapted to receive the nose of a spring-actuated dog 0, pivotally secured to the rim of the base A. The necks of the reservoirs are provided with suitable valves of any well-known or approved form, adapted to be operated by the arm 6 on a spring-actuated rock-shaft E, journaled in suitable bearings in the base A, as shown in Fig. 6, and provided at its outer end outside of the base with an operating-handle e. The valve which the particular arm e herein shown is adapted to operate is that shown and described in United States Patent No. 454:,997,granted to me June 30, 1891, although the particular form of valve to be employed is not a feature of my present. specification.

The mechanism for conveying the glass or receiver into position underneath the neck of the reservoir in position to discharge and returning it to the operator is constructed and arranged as follows:

The upper portion 1) of the casing B is of less depth from front to rear than the lower portion, and upon the deeper lower portion there is mounted a horizontally rocking wheel F, provided on its periphery with a series of bevel-teeth f, which intermesh with a bevel-toothed wheel G, fixed on the operatingshaft H. The shaft H is journaled in suitable bearings in a hanger h, fixed to the easing B, and extends through the front of the casing, and is there provided with a crank 7L for operating it. The wheel F is provided with a hubf, which turns freely within a suitable bearing within the top of the casing, being secured in position by a collar f fixed to the hub at the under side of its support. The wheel F has fixed to its upper side and spaced therefrom by means of bosses f 3 a plate f which supports a transparent guard f The guard f is preferably made of glass having the general form of an inverted glass dish, and is intended to be of such depth as to occupy with an easy fit the space between the top of the platef and the bottom of the base A. It is provided with an indentation f in itsperiphery, adapted to receive the seat f on the plate f for the glass or other receiver, which is intended to receive its charge from the reservoir, and the Wall of the indentation f is furtherindented at the inner end of the indentation f, as shown at f, for the purpose of admitting the fingers or hand to conveniently grasp the receiver when on its seatf within the indentation f. The plate f' and the transparent guard f are so located as to extend for a distance equal to half their diameter or less between the bottom of the base A and the top of the deeper portion of the casing and between the side walls of the upper portion 12 of the casing, so that when the wheel F, with its plate f and receiver and guard thereon, is turned to carry the glass or receiver within the space heneath the bottom of the base A access to the glass will be cut off, although the glass will remain visible to the operator.

To prevent any possible return of the glass or receiver after it has passed out of reach and before it has been brought into position directly beneath the reservoir arranged to discharge, and also to prevent its retrograde movement after it has once been started on its road from beneath the reservoir toward the operator, I provide a double-acting pawl I, (see Fig. 5,) which is provided with arms extending in opposite directions in position to engage the teeth fon the wheel F and prevent it from rotating in one direction or the other, according to the direction in which the pawl I may be tilted. A springactuated dog 2' presses against the tapered back t" of the pawl, and is so arranged with relation to the pawl that when the pawl is tilted in one direction it will engage one side of the tapered portion t" and hold the pawl in that position while when the dog is tilted in the opposite direction, past the nose of the dog, the latter will engage the opposite side of the tapering portion i. and will tend to hold the pawl tilted in the opposite direction. The pawl is forcibly and automatically tilted at the proper moments-namely, at the extreme limits of the rocking movement of the receiver-supportby means of hook-shaped lugs which, as the receiver-support reaches the limit of its stroke, override one of the oppositely-extended arms of the pawl and force that arm of the pawl with which they engage down into contact with the teeth j and the tapered back 2" of the pawl past the nose of the dog 2'. From this it follows that when the receiversupport is being carried from without into position beneath the reservoir the pawl I will allow the support to rotate freely in the direction to carry the receiver in, but will not allow its movement in the opposite direction, and there will be no means of changing the effect of the pawl until the receiver-support has been rotated to the extreme limit of its stroke and has thereby brought the pawl-operating lug i into engagement with the pawl, and thereby rocked it past the nose of the dog 2', so as to reverse its effect. In the same manner, while the receiver-support is now free to be rocked in the opposite direction to carry the receiver outwardly within reach of the operator, it will not be possible to reverse its movement untilit has been brought outwardly to the limit of its stroke and the pawl I has been rocked in the opposite direction by means of the operating-lug t at that limit of its stroke. The glass guard f is secured against lateral displacement by its engagement with the receiver-seat f", in connection with a pair of pins f projecting upwardly from the face of the plate f The printing of the price of the liquid dispensed and the severing of the printed tickets is accomplished as follows: A horizontally-rotating ratchet-wheel K is-provided with a depending notched rim formingaseries of cams k. Theratchet-wheel K is loosely mounted upon a stud 7c, fixed to the top of the casing, and the number of its ratchet-teeth le -4n the present instance four-corresponds with the number of depending cams 7c. The earns 70 taper from a broad base to narrow vertices at their lower ends and serve to operate both the swinging type-carrier and the movable jaw of the cutter, as will hereinafter appear. The wheel K is rotated in a step-by-step movement by means of a pawl 14?, (see Figs. 4 and 9,) pivotally secured to an arm k, the latter projecting from a rocking disk k loosely mounted on the stud 7c. The free end of the arm 70 is connected by a link 70 with a stud k fixed to the wheel F, and depending from its under side. The stud 70 projects downwardly through a curved slot 10 in the top of the casing, the latter corresponding with the path in which the stud 10 would travel when.

carried by the wheel F in its rocking movement. The arrangement of the pawl 75, the arm 70 and the link 10 is such that when the wheel F is rocked by means of the crank 71/ in the direction to carry the receiverinto position underneath the reservoir the pawl 70 will be advanced the distance of one tooth k on the, wheel K, and will hook over the end of the tooth at the termination of the inward,

movement of the receiver. When the receiversupport is rocked in the opposite direction to return the charged receiver -to the operator the pawl it will be drawn by means of its connection with the wheel F in the opposite di rection and will carry with it the ratchet-wheel K the distance of one tooth, corresponding to the distance between two successive cams 70.

An operating arm for depressing the impression-pad to make the print, consisting in the present instance of an angular-shaped portion L Z and an extension Z, fixed to the parts L and lot the angle portion is pivotally secured at one end to a suitable support Z with its free end projecting over the swinging frame M, carrying the impression-pad m. The part lot the angle portion of the arm is provided at or near its free end with an antitriction roller Z which is held normally in engagement with the faces of the cams 70 by means of a spring I, attached to the top of the casing and to the free end of the frame L, and tending to lift the said frame and the operating-arm with it toward the top of the casing.

. Beneath the impression-pad m a type-bed N is located and is connected with its support 92 in such a manner that it may be slid transversely with respect to the impressionpad m. It is here shown as having a dovetail connection with its support it, as shown in Fig. 3, where it is seen in end elevation. The said type-bedN is provided with as many different sets of type as there are different prices of liquids to be dispensedin the present instance with two sets. As it is intended to print the tickets in duplicate, a set of type will consist of duplicate characters spaced apart to correspond with the two strips of ribbon or other material to be impressed.-

end by means of a stud o with the bed-plate N, its upper end 0 projecting upwardly through the bottom of the base A into position to be engaged by lugs 0 depending from the bottom of the rotaryreservoir-support and so located as to operate the lever 0 only when a IGSGI'YOil containing the higher-priced liq uid is brought in position to discharge into the receiver. In rotating the reservoirs C to bring any particular one into position to discharge other than those containing the higherpriced liquid the depending lugs 0 will pass the top of the lever O and the type-bed N will return under the tension of the spring 12' to its normal position, hen the ratchet-wheel K is rotated the distance of one tooth, the anti -friction roller Z will ride downwardly along one side of thecam 7c, and when it reaches the vertex of the cam the impression-pad, will have brought the ribbon into contactwith the type upon the bed N, and after passing the Vertex the said roller will ride upwardly on the opposite side of the cam under the tension of the spring Z thereby allowing theimpression-pad to recede from the type-bed. The strips 19 of material to be printed are fed over the type-bed N from supply-rolls P, as follows: A feed-roller Q, located a short distance from the type bed, is mounted in suitable hearings to admit of its rotary movement, and is provided on one end with a bevel-gear g, which intcrmeshes with a bevel gear-wheel q, fixed on a stud g which depends from a ratchet-wheel The ratchetwheel is seated in proximity to the upper face of the wheel F, and the depending stud (1 extends loosely through the hub f on the wheel F. A spring-actuated pawl (1 (see dotted lines, Fig. 5) is carried by the wheel F in engagement with the ratchet-wheel g so that when the wheel F is rocked in one direction the pawl will engage the ratchet-wheel g and causeit to rotate with the wheel F; but when the wlreel F is rotated in the opposite direction the pawl (1 will ride over the teeth on the wheel (1 and allow the latter to remain at rest. The arrangement is such that the ratchet-wheel will be rotated, and the feed-roller Q thereby rotated to feed the strips along over the type-bed when the receiver is being carried from without into its position underneath the reservoir. A pressure-roller g is mounted in yielding bearings in position to hold the strips of material firmly against the face of the feed-roller Q, so as to cause them to be positively fed forward by the rotation of said feedroller. Between the feed-roller Q and type-bed N there is located a cutter consisting of a stationary jaw R and a movable j aw 7", between which jaws the strips of material are fed into position to be printed. The movable jaw 4' is held normally open by means of a suitable spring, and has fixed thereto an arm 1*, carrying an anti-friction roller 0' which is held normally in engagement with the cams 70, depending from the ratchet-wheel K. At the same time that the impression-pad on is depressed to make the impression the movable jaw r, by means of the roller 1' in engagement with one of the cams k, is caused to close upon the jaw R and sever the strips, so that when the jaw R is allowed to recede at the same time that the pad m recedes the printed tickets will be free to fall into their respective receptacles. One of these receptacles S is located within the casing 13, and ac- 'cess thereto can be had only by the person holding the key to the door of the casing. The other receptacle 5 consists of a conduit leading from within the casing to the outside thereof, so that the ticket may be received by the operator through an opening 3 in the casing.

In order to prevent the return of the typebed N into position to print a lower price by the further turning of the reservoir-support after it has once been turned and liquid drawn from that reservoir containing the higherpriced liquid, I provide a spring-actuated stop consisting of a bar or rod T, having a sliding movement within its bearings t and extending from the operating-wheel G on the shaft H to a point in proximity to the end of the type-bed N. A spring 15 tends to hold the rod T normally out of engagement with the end of the type-bed N, and the said rod is forced toward the type-bed against the tension of the spring by means of a cam t on the inner face of the wheel G, (see Fig. 4,) which, as the said wheel G is turned to carry the receiver into position beneath the reservoir, causes the end of the rod T to ride up the face of the cam t and thereby project into the path of the end of the type-bed N. So long as the type-bed N remains in position to print the lower price the rod Twill playback and forth out of engagement with the type-bed N; but when the type-bed N has been shifted to print a higher price the end of the rod T will be advanced into a socket i in the end of the bed, and will thereby lock it in position to print the higher price, no matter how the reservoi r-support maybe thereafter manipulated.

For the purpose of giving audible notice of the movement of the impression device I provide the rim of the ratchet-wheel K with pins 25 corresponding to the number of ratchet-teeth k and cams 7; thereon, which, as the wheel K is rotated, engage a spring-actuated arm 6 connected with a bell-hammer if, and thereby rock the hammer away from the bell t and allow it to come back and strike as the pin passes the arm.

The operation of the several parts having been described in detail, the operation of the apparatus as a whole may be briefly described as follows: The reservoir support is first turned to bring that reservoir from which it is desired to dispense the liquid into position.

The glass or other receiver is then placed upon its seat within the indentation within the transparent guard and is carried bymanipulating the crank it at the front into position beneath the receiver from which the liquid is to be drawn. This movement of the receivercarrier will at the same time feed the strips of material to be printed forward over the typebed and will carry the pawl k into position to operate the ratchet-wheel K. The valveoperating handle 6 being now manipulated, the liquid may be drawn into the receiver in such quantity as may be desired, up to the capacity of the receiver. Vhen this is done, the reverse movement of the operating-lever h will return the charged receiver to the front, and will at the same time print the price and sever the strips, one of the printed tickets remaining within the casing and the other being discharged within the reach of the operator.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In combination, two or more reservoirs, means for bringing them successively over a predetermined point, a discharging device, a receiver-carrier adapted to carry the receiver from without into an inclosure beneath the discharging-reservoir, and means for operating the said receiver-carrier, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a supply-reservoir, an inclosure surrounding its discharge, and a receiver-carrier having a movement to convey the receiver from without to the discharge within the inclosure and return, of a guard on the receiver-carrier forming a part of said inclosure, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a supply-reservoir, an inclosure surrounding its discharge, and a receiver-carrier having a movement to convey the receiver from without to the discharge within the inclosure and return, of a transparent guard on the receiver-carrier forming a part of said inclosure, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination, with a series of reservoirs, a rotary support for the reservoirs, and means for locking the reservoirs in theirsupport, of a base inclosing the discharge ends of the reservoirs and provided with an opening through which the several reservoirs may discharge, an inclosure surrounding the said discharge-opening, a movable receivercarrier, a guard on the receiver-carrier forming a part of said inclosure, means for operating the carrier, and means for regulating the discharge from the reservoirs, substan-.

tially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the rotary reservoir-support comprising the bottom and top plates provided with rims or flanges, the central hub connecting the plates, and the cover fitted to the top plate, of the base provided with bearings upon whichthe reservoir-support rests, the spindle engaged with the base and extending through the hub, and a lock for securing the cove-r to the spindle, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a supply-reservoir and its support, of a receiver-carrier having a reciprocating movement tocarry the re ceiver into position to receive the discharge from the reservoir and return it, a wheel fixed,

to rotate with the carrier, an operating-wheel engaged with said first-named wheel, and an operating-crank, substantially as set forth.

,7. The combination, with a supply-reservoir, a movable receiver-carrier, and means for operating the carrier, of a check-printer under the control of the means for operating the receiver-carrier, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a supply-reservoir, a movable receiver-carrier, and means for operating the carrier, of a check-printer and a feeding device, both under the control of the means for operating the carrier, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a supply-reservoir, a movable receiver-carrier, and means for operating the carrier, of a check-printer, a feeding device, and a cutter, all under the control of the means for operating the receiver-carrier,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a plurality of reservoirs adapted to contain liquids having different. prices and means for moving the reservoirs to a predetermined point to discharge, of a variable-check printer under the control of the moving reservoirs to determine the price to be recorded, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with a plurality of reservoirs and means for moving them into position to discharge, of a receiver-carrier, means for operating it, and a variable-check printer, the check-printer being under the control of the movable reservoirs to determine the price and under the control. of the means for operating the receiver-carrier to print the check, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with the movable reservoirs, the movable-receiver carrier, the variable-check printer under the control of the movable reservoirs to set it, and means-for operating the receiver-carrier, of a stop actuated by the said operating means to lock the check-printer in its position to print the desired price, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with a supply-reservoir, a receiver-carrier mounted upon a rotary support, and means for rotating the carrier-support, of a cam-wheel controlled by the movements of'the rotary receiver-support, and a check-printer controlled by the cam-Wheel, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with the rotary support for the receivencarrier, the receiver-carrier, and the means for operating it, of the cam-wheel provided with teeth, the pawl connected with the rotary carrier-support for operatin g the cam-wheel, and the check-printer, a movable part of the check-printer being under the control of the cam-wheel to print the check, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination, with the rotary support for the receiver-carrier, the receiver-carrier, and means for operating it, of a camwheel under the control of the rotary support, a check-printer under the control of the cam-wheel, and a cutter under the control of the cam-wheel, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination, with the rotary support for the receiver-carrier, the receiver-carrier, the means for operating it, and the checkprinter under the control of said rotary support, of a feeding device for advancing the ribbon or material to receive the impression, a ratchet-wheel under the control of a pawl carried by the rotary carrier-support, and gear connecting the ratchet-wheel with the feeding device, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination, with the rotary support for the receiver-carrier, the receiver-oarrier, and means for operating it, the said irotary support being provided with a hollow hub, of a check-printer under the control of the rotary support, a feed-roller, a ratchetwheel located in proximity to the face of the said rotary support, a pawl carried-by the 1'0- tary support in engagement with the said ratchet-wheel, the said ratchet-wheel being provided with a stem extending through the hollow end of the support, and gear connecting the stem of the ratchet-wheel with the feed-roller, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination, with the rotary support for the receiver-carrier and the receivercarrier, of the check-printer and the severing device actuated by said rotary support during its movement in one direction, and the feeding device actuated by said rotary sup port during its movement in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination, with a reservoir and, a casing partially inclosing its discharge, of a receiver-carrier having a movementto carry the receiver within the casing in position to receive the discharge from the reservoir, and a transparent guard carried by the receivercarrier and provided with an indentation to receive the receiver, the said guard serving to close the casing surrounding the discharge and prevent access thereto, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination, with the rotary receiver-carrier having a predetermined movement in opposite directions, of a stop to prevent the retrograde movement of the carrier during its travel in either direction, and means for shifting the action of the stop at the limit of movement of the carrier, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination, With the rotary receiver-support provided with a series of teeth, of a (loubleacting pawl seated in position to engage the said teeth, a dog adapted to hold the pawl in position, and pawl-operating devices located at the limits of the rotary movement of the said receiver-support for shifting the pawl, substantially as set forth.

\VILLIAM M. FO\VLER. Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, D. H. HAYWOOD. 

